10 Late-Winter & Early-Spring Bloomers for Western Gardens

Banish winter doldrums with flowering plants that bloom before spring officially arrives. These ten drought-tolerant, western-adapted selections bring color, pollinators, and life to arid landscapes from late winter into spring.

1. Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii)

Native: S. California, N. Baja California. Zones: 8 (10°F). Purple spikes above fragrant gray-green leaves, late winter + fall flush. Open habit for naturalistic gardens. Backdrop for blackfoot daisy, desert marigold. Spent spikes for dried arrangements.

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2. Parry's Penstemon (Penstemon parryi)

Native: Low deserts of C. Arizona, Sonora. Zones: 8 (15°F). Pink spikes command attention; hummingbird magnet. Blue-gray foliage. Cut spent spikes for rebloom. Pair with angelita daisy, trailing lantana.

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3. Upright Myrtle Spurge (Euphorbia rigida)

Native: Mediterranean. Zones: 5 (–20°F). Succulent blue-gray mounds; cool yellow-green flowers pre-spring, aging to tan/orange. Contemporary or naturalistic. Prune spent flowers at base.

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4. Chuparosa (Justicia californica)

Native: Sonoran Desert. Zones: 9 (20°F). Orange-red trumpets on gray-green stems, late winter/spring (sporadic year-round). Hummingbird favorite. Heart-shaped leaves (may drop in drought). Pair with yellow brittlebush, damianita.

Huettl Landscape Architecture

5. Latin American Fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus)

Native: Mexico, Central America. Zones: 8 (15°F). Trailing ground cover; tiny white/pink daisies spring–fall (pauses in summer heat). Bees love it. Paths, dry creeks, boulders, containers. Combines with angelita daisy, gaura, mock vervain.

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6. Valentine Bush (Eremophila maculata 'Valentine')

Native: Australia. Zones: 8 (15°F). Red/dark pink blooms along stems for Valentine's Day (Christmas in zone 9+). Long bloom to late spring. Evergreen, rounded. Shear to 1.5 ft post-bloom. Pair with yellow feathery cassia.

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

7. Bulbine (Bulbine frutescens)

Native: South Africa. Zones: 7 (10°F). Orange spikes on green succulent stems; blooms year-round (pauses in hot summers). Clumping ground cover. Under desert trees (cascalote, palo blanco, 'Desert Museum' palo verde). 'Hallmark', 'Tiny Tangerine' are sterile.

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8. Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.)

Native: Western U.S. (WA to NM), BC, Mexico. Zones: 6+ (0°F) depending on species. Ground covers to small trees. Evergreen; winter/early spring flowers; mahogany-red bark. 80+ species in CA alone. Freeway/parking lot tough. Slopes, backgrounds, focal points.

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9. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Native: Mediterranean. Zones: 7 (10°F; some to zone 6). Herb + ornamental. Blue winter/spring flowers; aromatic needles. Shrub form: hedges, topiary, containers. Ground cover: paths, massings. Pair with angelita daisy, bush morning glory, damianita.

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10. Outback Cassia (Senna artemisioides ssp. oliogophylla)

Native: Australia. Zones: 9 (20°F). Golden-yellow flowers late winter–spring. Green foliage, reddish stems. Thrives in reflected heat, west exposures, medians. Pair with red bloomers (chuparosa, firecracker penstemon, Valentine bush). Add summer/fall bloomers for year-round color. Prune reddish-brown seedpods post-bloom.

All prefer well-drained soil, full sun (some tolerate filtered shade), and drought-tolerant conditions once established.